When One Woman Dressed Up Like Snow White She Made Us All Remember Another World: A World of Faith, Hope, and Love

Several years ago, my wife hosted a birthday party for a woman named Vicky in her mid-fifties. Vicky, my wife thought, bears an uncanny resemblance to Snow White. She possessed dark, straight, jet-black hair, a fair complexion, and round, dark eyes, making her a doppelganger for the beloved Disney princess.

The celebration began in our home and culminated at The Cheesecake Factory as part of a progressive party. As festivities commenced, gifts were exchanged and unwrapped. Firm in her opinion that Vicky embodied Snow White, my wife gave her a full costume as a gift.

As soon as it was opened, Vicky donned the high-collared, blue and yellow dress with puffy sleeves and put a crimson bow in her hair. Our friend truly embodied the princess from the another world.

Next Stop: The Mall

Part two of the celebration led the ladies into a mini-van en route to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. The party included my wife, approximately three of her friends, and Snow White. (This is the part of the party I would not attend.)

Later that day, reports from some friends who were shopping at the mall trickled in. I received a text from one: “David, I saw your wife hanging out with Snow White! Cute. But what gives?” My wife also messaged me, telling me they would return late. Vicky had not gone unnoticed.

She had become the center of attention, surrounded by young girls eager for photographs and autographs. It was, as I heard it, enchanting. Wherever Vicky went in the mall, she was noticed by young girls who knew something was different. Vicky was in this world — in their world — but as Snow White, she also embodied the story from another world. She represented a completely different narrative — that we all want to be true — where princesses are rescued, evil is overcome, and people live happily ever after.

I am not promoting a Disney theology of an Enchanted Forest, but the analogy is crystal clear to me. Vicky’s attire showed everyone that another world is possible. That is the meaning of hope. Throughout that day, especially for young girls, she evoked thoughts of a different realm, one with an alternative storyline, diffferent values, and better outcomes than in this world.

Dress for Success

This was a profound lesson for me. Believing and accepting that Jesus is both Lord and Savior is not just an intellectual agreement or an academic decision. It is also about living a daily life that will assume this new identity. As Paul puts it, that will will “put on” the Lord Jesus. Wear him and live into his clothing. Accept his look, if you will, as our look

As followers, we live within this world, navigating the mall, work, gym, and store, engaging in the facets of life. However, we do so not as solely ourselves, but as a representatives of an alternative narrative from a world beyond this one. Such is the role and responsibility of a Christian follower of Christ — living in this world, but living from a different realm.

Advent is perfect time of year to think about the primary outfit we wear and the storyline we embrace — and which we represent. If I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior — that he came into the world to save sinners — then I want to live my life as a legitmate representative of the Kingdom of God.

When people look at me, I want them to think about him.

This is what the world needs now from the church and from Christians followers. The world doesn’t pay attention to the church much these days. But perhaps it is because we have lost the narrative of the world we should be representing; we have forgotten what it means to represent the biblical truth that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself; and that gave us that ministry of reconciliation.

This means, as Paul puts it, that we are ambassadors for Christ. People should look at us — our life, our ethics, our priorities, our values — and be able to see we represent a different kind of humanity. It doesn’t mean that we think of ourselves as better than anyone else. No. But it does mean that we think of ourselves less — and think more of him.

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David Roseberry is the Executive Director of LeaderWorks, a non-profit ministry providing coaching, consulting, and Kickstarter funding for the local church. He is author of several books that apply the Bible to the every day life of a Christian believer. Go visit his Author Page at Amazon. He latest book, “The Last Will and Testament of the Apostle Paul” is a good place to start understanding his accessible and applicable style. David lives in North Dallas with his wife Fran. Follow him on Medium and X.